Denise Buisman Pilger
Denise Buisman Pilger is a contemporary artist whose practice centers on themes of empowerment and authenticity, expressed through bold, abstract mixed-media paintings. Born in Amsterdam and having lived in Fort Worth, Montréal, and Nagoya, her experiences across four countries have deeply influenced her exploration of identity and resilience. Through her art, she addresses the strength required to embrace one’s true self in the face of societal expectations.
Denise's early work, a series of urban mixed-media paintings, evoked feelings of nostalgia and transformation, reflecting the dynamic environments of her expatriate life. As her practice evolved, she shifted toward abstract expression, focusing on the interplay of colour, texture, and form to convey emotional depth and the power of personal reinvention. Her use of materials such as acrylics, washi paper, and image transfers creates a layered, tactile experience that invites viewers to engage with both the surface and the underlying emotional narrative.
Her work transcends memory, offering an invitation to embrace imperfection and find strength in vulnerability. By challenging the conventional boundaries of identity and self-expression, her art encourages viewers to confront their own constraints and explore the power of authenticity. The vibrant, textured compositions reflect the resilience she found in the continuous reinvention of self, and they serve as a call for others to embrace their individuality with courage.
Denise holds a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration from the Willem de Kooning Academy of Arts in Rotterdam. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Art Basel Week, Art Expo New York, the Toyota Museum, the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, and galleries in New York, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Nagoya, Okazaki, and Gifu.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
My abstract mixed media paintings are a celebration of strength and authenticity. In a world where our lives often feel like a constant performance, maintaining a true sense of self is a challenge. The pressures of societal expectations, amplified by the daily deluge of social media, make it all too easy to lose sight of who we are. I’ve spent years conforming to others’ expectations, but through my art, I’ve discovered the power of reclaiming my own identity.
At the easel, the urge to create boldly—using vibrant colours and rich textures—became impossible to ignore. My art became a refuge, a way to quiet external pressures and rediscover the core of who I am. The act of creation has allowed me to break free from the rules I once followed, embracing freedom and imperfection.
Drawing from over a decade and a half of experience, my series "Unveiling" explores this journey of self-expression, using layers of acrylics, washi paper, oil pastels, sand, and alcohol to evoke subtle textures and luminous effects. The process mirrors my path of peeling back layers of expectation to reveal something deeper and more authentic beneath the surface.
In my studio, I let the paintings lead, relinquishing control and allowing the work to unfold naturally. By embracing imperfection and unpredictability, I find freedom in the act of creation, and I invite others to experience the same.
In a world constantly seeking approval, I believe it is crucial to nurture our inner sanctuary. Through my work, I aim to create space for empowerment and emotional resilience, encouraging others to break free from perfectionism and external validation.
My art is a call to embrace the beauty of imperfection, listen to our inner voices, and explore our true selves with courage. As I continue this journey, I look forward to seeing where my art will lead—to new destinations of creative freedom and personal empowerment.
Denise Buisman Pilger is a contemporary artist whose practice centers on themes of empowerment and authenticity, expressed through bold, abstract mixed-media paintings. Born in Amsterdam and having lived in Fort Worth, Montréal, and Nagoya, her experiences across four countries have deeply influenced her exploration of identity and resilience. Through her art, she addresses the strength required to embrace one’s true self in the face of societal expectations.
Denise's early work, a series of urban mixed-media paintings, evoked feelings of nostalgia and transformation, reflecting the dynamic environments of her expatriate life. As her practice evolved, she shifted toward abstract expression, focusing on the interplay of colour, texture, and form to convey emotional depth and the power of personal reinvention. Her use of materials such as acrylics, washi paper, and image transfers creates a layered, tactile experience that invites viewers to engage with both the surface and the underlying emotional narrative.
Her work transcends memory, offering an invitation to embrace imperfection and find strength in vulnerability. By challenging the conventional boundaries of identity and self-expression, her art encourages viewers to confront their own constraints and explore the power of authenticity. The vibrant, textured compositions reflect the resilience she found in the continuous reinvention of self, and they serve as a call for others to embrace their individuality with courage.
Denise holds a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration from the Willem de Kooning Academy of Arts in Rotterdam. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Art Basel Week, Art Expo New York, the Toyota Museum, the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, and galleries in New York, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Nagoya, Okazaki, and Gifu.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
My abstract mixed media paintings are a celebration of strength and authenticity. In a world where our lives often feel like a constant performance, maintaining a true sense of self is a challenge. The pressures of societal expectations, amplified by the daily deluge of social media, make it all too easy to lose sight of who we are. I’ve spent years conforming to others’ expectations, but through my art, I’ve discovered the power of reclaiming my own identity.
At the easel, the urge to create boldly—using vibrant colours and rich textures—became impossible to ignore. My art became a refuge, a way to quiet external pressures and rediscover the core of who I am. The act of creation has allowed me to break free from the rules I once followed, embracing freedom and imperfection.
Drawing from over a decade and a half of experience, my series "Unveiling" explores this journey of self-expression, using layers of acrylics, washi paper, oil pastels, sand, and alcohol to evoke subtle textures and luminous effects. The process mirrors my path of peeling back layers of expectation to reveal something deeper and more authentic beneath the surface.
In my studio, I let the paintings lead, relinquishing control and allowing the work to unfold naturally. By embracing imperfection and unpredictability, I find freedom in the act of creation, and I invite others to experience the same.
In a world constantly seeking approval, I believe it is crucial to nurture our inner sanctuary. Through my work, I aim to create space for empowerment and emotional resilience, encouraging others to break free from perfectionism and external validation.
My art is a call to embrace the beauty of imperfection, listen to our inner voices, and explore our true selves with courage. As I continue this journey, I look forward to seeing where my art will lead—to new destinations of creative freedom and personal empowerment.
$3,735.00
Acrylic, washi, sand oil pastel and ink on canvas.
30x36x1.50"
Passions Stir:
Veiled within the depths for what felt like eternity, hidden passions lay dormant, their presence nearly imperceptible.
Like buried treasures awaiting discovery, they lingered in obscurity, waiting for the gentle touch of acknowledgment and affection to coax them into the light.
With tender encouragement and love, Passions Stir. Emerging cautiously at first, like timid creatures venturing out from the shadows.
Each tender stroke of the brush unveils a bit more, illuminating the brilliance within with increasing clarity.
With each layer, the radiance grows, shining more brightly against the backdrop of hesitation and doubt that used to be.
$9,965.00
Acrylic, washi, sand oil pastel and ink on wood.
48x60x1.50"
Effervescence:
In a sea of conformity, where waves of expectation crash against the shores of individuality, a transformation begins.
It's a voyage marked by uncertainty and liberation, each step forward peeling back societal veils to reveal the hues of authenticity.
Guided by courage, navigating toward a core of truth where bravery and uniqueness intertwine in a tale of empowerment and liberation.
Every moment of self-acceptance becomes a victory, each hesitant glow now radiant and bold.
Within this ocean, the Effervescence shines bright—a beacon of resilience and self-discovery.
$6,645.00
Acrylic, washi, sand oil pastel and ink on wood.
40x48x1.50"
Swirling Thoughts:
Inner thoughts swirl, like bubbles drifting through an ephemeral space, a void of fog. Light as air and delicate as soap bubbles, they shimmer briefly before bursting with the slightest disturbance.
In this fragile space, musings are fleeting moments, beautiful yet transient. The fog envelops them, making each idea both visible and elusive, like a dream on the edge of waking.
This intricate interplay of Swirling Thoughts captures the essence of the mind’s quiet chaos, where clarity and confusion coexist, and where each bubble of insight is precious and fleeting.
$3,735.00
Acrylic, washi, sand oil pastel and ink on wood.
36x30x1.50"
Fervor:
A surge of passion, flowing like molten lava, a powerful tide of energy that burns away the constraints of conformity, transforming everything into a vivid expanse of raw emotion.
Stepping out onto the expanse, the heat radiates with fierce intensity. Fiery currents flow beneath the surface, nurturing the egg at its heart.
With each step toward the core, the soul’s Fervor kindles into a blazing inferno. The intense heat of the relentless surge of passion causes the shell to crack and shatter, allowing the true self to emerge from the ashes like a phoenix taking flight.
$6,645.00
Acrylic, washi, sand oil pastel and ink on wood.
40x48x1.50"
Adrift:
Adrift in the vast expanse of the inner universe, lost amidst swirling nebulas and distant galaxies, seeking a way through the cosmic void.
Floating in the miasma, colors flow like rivers of stardust, layering one on top of the other. Each layer of hue and shade reflects a fragment of the essence within.
With meticulous care, each brushstroke is placed, seeking to capture the guiding light that leads back to the core.
$4,150.00
Acrylic, washi, sand oil pastel and ink on wood.
40x30x1.50"
Awakening:
In the quiet of the glade, after the long embrace of winter, the earth stirs with the promise of new life. Beneath the thawing ground, dormant buds rouse from their slumber.
As sunlight filters through the canopy, it's as if the forest itself is dreaming, slowly Awakening from its wintry sleep. Each tender bud, once nestled in frost, now reaches for the warmth above, a gentle sigh of anticipation in the stillness of early spring.
Nature's silent harmony unfolds, where the promise of blossoms whispering on the breeze, and the forest breathes with the quiet joy of renewal.
$7,975.00
Acrylic, oil pastel and ink on wood.
48x48x1.50"
A Symphony of Space:
Each stroke on the canvas is a step on the long, winding path to self-discovery, each layer of paint lifts a veil.
The subtle glow of inner light grows brighter, it's not a blinding revelation but a gradual illumination like the dawn breaking on an undiscovered landscape.
There's an undeniable pull to explore what lies within. Peeling away the layers is not about losing something, but about gaining clarity.
The canvas of life is vast, each stroke made holds a different emotion, layer upon layer, slowly building to reveal a Symphony of Space.
$3,735.00
Acrylic, washi, oil pastel, sand and ink on wood.
30x36x1.50"
Soul's Heat:
The cracks of the shattered outer shell reveal the glow of the inner core.
Soul’s Heat rises from glowing pools, casting a fiery radiance visible from below, like the earth's vibrant pulse coursing deep beneath the surface.
Amidst this rugged terrain, a sense of raw passion emanates, as if the landscape itself breathes with an unquenchable fire.
It's a panorama that invites awe and wonder, where the strength of upheaval meets the quiet beauty of renewal.